Eagles forward Sabatini makes NCAA DI commitment

Mike Sabatini caught the eye of NCAA Division I scouts at the 2014 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament in February.

By Randy Russon

Soo Eagles power forward Mike Sabatini has committed to play for the Canisius College Golden Griffins of the NCAA Division I, Atlantic Hockey Association effective the 2014-2015 season.

Sabatini, a 6-foot-1, 185 pounder, led the Soo Eagles of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) in scoring during the 2013-2014 season with 19 goals, 22 assists, 41 points in 58 games.

A 1995-birth year who hails from Grosse Pointe, Michigan, Sabatini said he "came away really impressed" with Canisius after visiting the school, which is located in Buffalo, NY.

"After meeting coach Dave Smith and getting a tour of the amazing campus I knew right away I wanted to go to Canisius," revealed Sabatini. "Coach Smith is a great guy with a really good reputation and Canisius is a strong academic school which is very important to me."

Sabatini said he plans to study business at Canisius.

Sabatini, a 2011 Ontario Hockey League draft pick of the Soo Greyhounds, played two NAHL seasons with the Eagles. And he couldn't say enough about the Eagles and their coach-general manager Bruno Bragagnolo.

"As an organization, the Eagles treat their players very well and I would like to thank them for all that they did for me," said Sabatini. "As for Coach Bruno, he made me a better player and a better person. I owe a lot to him."

While Sabatini still has two years of junior eligibility remaining, Bragagnolo said he is not surprised that his leading scorer is moving on to play at the Division 1 level next season.

"Mike is a good player and a good kid and he is ready to move up," said Bragagnolo. "As an organization, the Soo Eagles are happy for Mike and very proud of him at the same time. We want to wish Mike all the best at Canisius."

Bragagnolo also spoke highly of Canisius.

"It has an excellent reputation for both academics and hockey," said Bragagnolo. "I am really happy that Mike is getting the opportunity to go to such a respected school as Canisius."